Chapter 53: Attracting Investment
Although Li Yuechen had told Fulai to take a holiday and rest for two days, he seemed unable to sit still. Even during his days off, he busied himself in the Anfu Hall, darting back and forth as if afraid he might be forgotten. Only after seeing that Li Yuechen’s attitude toward him remained unchanged did he finally relax.
After two days of rest, Li Yuechen handed him a sheet of paper. “Find a place outside the city and help me collect these items for use as fertilizer.”
“May I ask, Your Highness, what are these ‘items’?”
“Ah…” Only then did Li Yuechen realize that this era didn’t have such a term, so she explained, “They’re just things—objects.”
Fulai nodded, though he still seemed a bit confused. “Why does Your Highness use ‘items’ to refer to objects?”
“Well… Isn’t it because Chang’an has both Eastern and Western markets? So I thought ‘items’ could stand for objects…”
As she explained, a sudden thought struck her: Why should I, a princess, explain such things so thoroughly to you? So she simply waved her hand. “Don’t ask so many questions—just get to it!”
Fulai, well-acquainted with Li Yuechen’s temper, wasn’t frightened. With a cheerful smile and a respectful bow, he answered, “Yes, Your Highness!”
After leaving Anfu Hall, Fulai unfolded the paper Li Yuechen gave him. It listed things like gypsum and fresh cow dung, among various other items. He sighed lightly; these weren’t matters that could be settled in a day or two—it would require leaving the palace to handle properly.
...
It was now the season when all kinds of fruits were coming to market, and Li Zhi had bestowed a generous selection upon Li Yuechen. As his most beloved daughter, every time a new tribute fruit arrived, his first thought was always to share some with her.
Recently, a fresh batch of grapes had been brought in as tribute, and Li Zhi sent over a plentiful supply right away. In truth, the Tang Dynasty originally did not produce grapes, but during Emperor Taizong’s reign, grapes were successfully cultivated near Chang’an, which also led to the rise of winemaking. Incidentally, Emperor Taizong himself was fond of making wine, even brewing it personally.
Xiao He carried over a deep blue plate, like the color of the ocean, with freshly washed grapes and placed it on the desk.
“Your Highness, grapes bestowed by His Majesty.”
Li Yuechen nodded. “Yes, just set them down.”
She wasn’t worried about poison or anything of the sort; all food entering the palace was tasted and tested by designated officials. She was simply deep in thought and hadn’t planned to eat yet.
Glancing at Shangguan Wan’er beside her, who was eyeing the grapes with wide eyes and quietly swallowing, Li Yuechen beckoned, “Wan’er, come and have some as well.”
“Thank you, Your Highness!” Shangguan Wan’er’s face erupted in smiles as she ran over, grabbed two grapes, and popped them into her mouth.
Then she looked up. “I’d like to take some for my mother.”
“Go ahead,” Li Yuechen nodded as she scribbled on her paper, “Xiao He, if you want some, please help yourselves.”
Xiao He beamed. “Thank you, Your Highness.” She chose the smallest bunch. “We servants will take these. These are the Emperor’s gift; Your Highness should enjoy more.”
“Mm.” Li Yuechen answered absentmindedly.
She was about to continue writing when her eyes suddenly caught sight of the plate, and she was momentarily stunned. Setting down her brush, she lifted the plate, dumping all the grapes onto the table, and began examining it closely.
Xiao He and the others thought she was angry and started to apologize, but Li Yuechen tapped the plate gently, her face filled with surprise. “Where did this plate come from?”
Hearing her question, Xiao He paused, then recalled, “It seems… it was a glass plate given by foreign envoys as tribute…”
Li Yuechen had initially assumed it was porcelain and hadn’t paid much attention, but at a casual glance, she realized it was actually glass! Though not transparent—full of bubbles—it meant that glassmaking had already appeared in this era.
She had always thought the Tang Dynasty’s ‘liuli’ referred to crystal gemstones, never expecting actual glass to exist.
“Can the Tang Dynasty produce such items?” Li Yuechen looked up and asked.
Xiao He nodded. “Yes, but most glass made in the Tang Dynasty is green. Occasionally there are colorless transparent pieces; all are treasured rarities.”
Li Yuechen nodded thoughtfully, considering silently. Green glass suggested that copper or iron dominated during firing—what should be added to correct this? Manganese, perhaps?
...
“So the Tang Dynasty already knows how to make this glass—liuli?” Li Yuechen asked.
“Yes.” Xiao He nodded. “The glass workshops under the Imperial Household Department are responsible for these items.”
Li Yuechen nodded in satisfaction. That settled it—she needn’t attempt the process herself, but could leave it to the craftsmen.
Her mood brightened at the thought, and she set the plate down with a smile, waving her hand. “Come, let’s eat grapes! Xiao He, go call my two elder sisters to join us!”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
She’d been worrying about how to tackle this project, for though she knew some methods, her technical expertise was lacking. Now, discovering that glassmaking existed in the Tang Dynasty, perhaps producing transparent glass would save much time.
However, people of this era likely knew nothing of manganese, so she’d have to locate natural manganese ore.
Li Yuechen remembered from her travels that Hunan and Sichuan had manganese mines, but given their size, finding them would be troublesome. As a princess, she couldn’t roam the mountains herself, but could offer rewards and send people to search.
This matter should indeed be added to her agenda, but she couldn’t ask Li Zhi for a reward just yet. After all, the project was still uncertain; only once a magnifying glass was successfully made could she ask Li Zhi to expand the search.
Besides, it was time to start collecting fruit for making preserves, and the initial capital would have to come from Li Zhi.
...
Two days later, Fulai returned to the palace to report that all items had been gathered, just outside Luoyang in a village.
Li Yuechen nodded, planning to inspect it herself in a few days.
After completing her morning exercises, she went to the Renshou Hall to visit Li Zhi and his wife.
“Well, Yuechen, you’re early today.” Li Zhi smiled.
Li Yuechen grinned. “How about I join you both for lunch today?”
“Of course.” Li Zhi agreed without hesitation—he was always delighted to dine with his daughter.
Wu Zetian glanced over. “What brings you here for lunch today?”
“I realized it’s been a while since I shared a meal with you, so I thought I’d come.” She hesitated briefly before adding, “Also, I wanted to discuss a small matter with you both…”
“Hmph!”
Wu Zetian’s face betrayed her amusement as she snorted and returned to her paperwork.
Li Yuechen smiled awkwardly—indeed, mothers always saw through their daughters.
After lunch, Li Yuechen poured tea for the couple and then revealed her intentions.
“Now that fruit is coming into season, I’d like to start making preserves. I hope to ask Father to invest and, afterwards, grant him a share of the proceeds…”
“Wait.” Li Zhi interrupted, rolling his health balls in his hand. “What do you mean by investment and shares?”
Li Yuechen patiently explained, “It means Father provides funds now for me to make preserves. Once the shop opens and sells goods, each year I’ll calculate dividends for Father—he’ll receive thirty percent of the profits, and I’ll keep seventy.”
“Why only seventy percent?” Li Zhi asked, puzzled.
“Seventy percent is mine!” Li Yuechen reminded him, nearly adding that even thirty percent depended on her mood, but managed to hold her tongue.
“Don’t underestimate that thirty percent, Father. As long as the shop exists, you’ll receive thirty percent annually. That way, if you ever need funds for relief or other matters, you’ll have them at hand.”
After her explanation, Li Zhi understood.
He thought for a moment and then asked, “So if the shop grows, no matter how much profit it makes, I’ll always get thirty percent?”
“Exactly!” Li Yuechen nodded. “That’s my intention.”
Li Zhi smiled. “Good, I’ll provide the funds!”
“Father, you’re magnificent!” Li Yuechen raised her hands in triumph and gave him a big hug.
Wu Zetian hadn’t spoken yet, but Li Yuechen pounced and hugged her as well.
“Go away!” Wu Zetian feigned annoyance, pushing her off. “All you do is scheme over trivial pursuits—where’s your dignity as a princess?”
Li Yuechen clung to her again with a cheerful grin. “Hehe, I am a princess—why should I care what others think? As long as you and Father are happy, I am content!”
...
“All you do is flatter!” Wu Zetian said, pushing her away again. Yet from the smile she struggled to suppress, it was clear she enjoyed her daughter’s affection.
After some playful banter, Li Yuechen took her leave.
As she watched her daughter depart, Li Zhi suddenly burst into laughter, spinning his health balls rapidly. “I once thought Yuechen was suited to command an army, but now it seems she could excel even in the Ministry of Revenue… Truly a talent for all things!”
“Your Majesty, don’t jest.” Wu Zetian cautioned. “She’s but a girl—how could she serve as an official?”
Li Zhi answered with a smile, “In Tang, if women can command armies, why not hold office?”
“But…” Wu Zetian was momentarily at a loss, “Our ancestral rules say otherwise…”
“Yes… ancestral rules, upheld for centuries!” Li Zhi nodded, seeming to ask his wife, or perhaps himself. “But does centuries of tradition mean it is right?”
Wu Zetian set her brush down and looked at Li Zhi, momentarily stunned.
She knew her husband well—an emperor skilled in breaking convention. And his words now were not mere musings; he truly considered such possibilities!
...
Departing, Li Yuechen had no inkling of how advanced Li Zhi’s thinking was—an emperor who would one day dare propose abdication to the Empress, so far ahead of his time and so bold in action.
She was humming a tune as she rode her little tricycle back to Anfu Hall, pleased to have secured her startup funds.
A quick drift brought her to the hall entrance. She leapt from the tricycle and trotted inside, settling at her desk.
Whenever she practiced calligraphy, she’d jot down ideas for things that might be useful in this era.
She wasn’t worried about anyone seeing her notes; first, without explanation, people of this time could hardly decipher what she wrote—especially the chemical symbols she still remembered. Second, her belongings were off-limits without her consent.
That very evening, Li Zhi’s promised funds arrived in full. Fulai was about to report, but Li Yuechen waved him off. “Tomorrow, let’s go see how the compost is progressing. Also, help me collect some fruit peels.”
“Fruit peels?” Fulai was puzzled.
“Yes.” Li Yuechen nodded. “It’s fruit season, and most people peel their fruit. Offer one coin for every five pounds of peels—even spoiled ones!”
One Kaiyuan Tongbao for five pounds of fruit peels was a bit expensive, but to gather them quickly, money was the only answer.
Li Yuechen recalled seeing fruit peels used as fertilizer during her rural days, so she intended to try everything possible to improve her chances of success.
Fulai didn’t understand the purpose, but as the princess had ordered, he could only comply. With Li Zhi’s funds at hand, he could simply pay cash on the spot.
The Li family’s spice shop in the southern market of Luoyang had reopened, but the signboard was removed, and spices were no longer sold. A notice was posted at the door: one coin for five pounds of fruit peels, one coin for seven pounds if they were spoiled.
Fulai wasn’t trying to embezzle—he simply wanted to save the princess money.
News spread quickly in the bustling market, soon reaching every corner in the southern district and gradually expanding outward.
Families living in the capital were generally well-off; especially the servants of wealthy households, who, upon seeing the notice, were immediately intrigued.
After all, wealthy families consumed plenty of fruit; collecting peels to sell could be a nice bit of pocket money.
No one would turn down easy cash, so soon after the notice went up, many servants in these households decided to quietly gather fruit peels.
Inside the shop, Fulai was instructing his nephew.
“Listen carefully—every account in this shop must be kept clear. If I find you embezzling, you won’t be forgiven!”
“Rest assured, Uncle, I understand!” Wang Xiang replied respectfully, but then asked curiously, “I heard you work for the princess—why does Her Highness need to open a shop?”
Fulai glared at him. “Brat! Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t—if you value your life!”
“Yes, yes… I spoke out of turn!” Wang Xiang hurriedly apologized.
Fulai glanced outside, then whispered, “Just do your job well. Her Highness is now in the Emperor’s favor. If you please her, you might just be rewarded with an official post!”
“Oh, that would all depend on you, Uncle!” Wang Xiang grinned brightly.